Vol. X No. 4

Recycling Report

	1.5		tons of aluminum cans
	7.3		tons of bi-metal cans
	13.9		tons of glass
	4.0		tons of HDPE plastics
	3.2		tons of PETE plastics
	31.3		tons of newspapers
	7.5		tons of scrap metal through the dumpster program

Dumpster Days

Drop-Off Hours for Yard Waste!!

Compost & Wood Chips Available

Free compost and wood chips are available from the Township. If you are interested, contact John Szefcyk, Road Superintendent, at 988-5833.

Have a problem?  Complaint forms are available at the Township Hall, inside the white bulletin board, or may be downloaded from the Township’s website.

Amherst Township Trustee Meetings may be viewed on Amherst Cable Channel 12. They will air for 7 days, running Mon thru Mon, following the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of the month. Air times are at 9 am, 4 pm, & 11 pm. Zoning Commission meetings will be shown 8 am, 3 pm & at the conclusion of the 11pm Trustee meetings. All airings are subject to change.

AMHERST TOWNSHIP
PARK ADDITION

	Amherst Youth Soccer Association Children age 5 through the 8th grade may register for the Spring Soccer League on January 19, 2006 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Nordson Depot.  Soccer will start the first week of April.  Players must be 5 years of age before July 31, 2006.  Players are not required to be Amherst students. For players under the age of 8, a copy of their birth certificate will need to be supplied, along with $30. All other players will need to supply a small picture of themselves (2”x3”) to be used for a player’s pass, a copy of their birth certificate, along with $40. A second sign-up will also be held on February 4, 2006 from 10am to 2pm at the Nordson Depot.

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FEATURED EMPLOYEE

Jim Yorks is our featured employee.  Jim has worked for the Township for 5 years.  He is currently on the Zoning Commission and was previously a member of the “Safety Task Force”.  As a member of the Zoning Commission, Jim needs to study and be familiar with the Amherst Township Zoning Resolution.  The Zoning Commission makes decisions on rezoning, handles special requests from individuals on rezoning, and reviews “Site Plan Reviews”, signs, and text changes to the Zoning Resolution.  They are also looking at the goals and vision of the overall “Comprehensive Use Plan” for the future of the Township.  The Zoning Commission usually meets once a month.  However, with the Quarry project, Conservation Development, the “Comprehensive Use Plan” and the “Route 58 Corridor Plan”, the last two years have been very busy with many extra meetings and public hearings.

Jim enjoys meeting new people in the township as well as working with his fellow commission members, the township trustees, and other county officials.  He finds the job to be gratifying, as he is made aware of future development projects (like the “Quarries”) and can be a part of the design phases so that the township’s concerns can be addressed prior to breaking ground.  He also appreciates the opportunity to give back to the community by sharing his talent in an effort to promote quality, controlled growth.  Jim finds the job to be difficult when they are unable to grant an applicant’s request and when weighing private property owner’s zoning rights vs. enforcing development standards in the best interest of the township as a whole.  He also dislikes when there is an aversion toward political agendas and meetings that last too long.

Jim is a registered architect and president of the A & E firm of James A. Yorks Architect and Associates in Amherst, Ohio.  He is responsible for directing design, development and managing the consulting and construction administration of the studio’s commissions.  Jim started his own practice in 1998 specializing in private residential and commercial design.  For the previous 15 years, he was employed by Star Builders Inc., during which time he held many positions such as carpenter, project manager, vice president, and principle architect in the commercial/industrial facilities development areas.  Jim has been working since he was in the 6^th grade and some of his previous positions include being a

	The Amherst Township Zoning Resolution will be available online sometime in January.  These documents include building regulations and land uses for Amherst Township.  The online copy will be in “pdf” format and may be printed from your own computer.  Residents should still contact the Amherst Township Zoning Inspector (Don Gargas) to verify a document’s latest revision.  Visit us at: www.amhersttownship.us

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F.A.C.E.

The Face Board has approved a project that will improve the Township Park.  The Project will include rest rooms, a concession stand, and a meeting room, all contained in the same building.  The project will require improvements in the parking lot and possible additions to the walking track.  The plans are being prepared and we will have further information in later newsletters.

Currently the board is able to accept donations that are tax deductible.  Please keep us in mind as you are making your year-end contributions.

Our board has 2 openings.  If you have interest in helping enhance our community please call Howard Akin at
233-7624.

	Snow Ban Residents are reminded that there is a “Snow Ban” in effect in Amherst Township.  If there are two inches of snow or more, vehicles should not be parked on the street.

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Christmas Tree Disposal

Amherst Township residents may bring their live Christmas Trees to the rear of the Amherst Township Garage Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Residents may also leave live trees on their lawn near the road.  The township road crew will be picking up these trees Dec 26th thru Jan 7th.

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THANK-YOU!
Lorain County Sheriff’s
Bike Patrol

We would again like to thank the Lorain County Sheriff’s Department for providing their bike patrol during Amherst Township’s “Trick-or-Treat” day.  This is the fourth year in a row that the bike patrol has cruised Amherst Township’s neighborhoods to ensure the safety of our children participating in this holiday.  This year’s bike patrol consisted of Deputy Greiner and Deputy Kovacs.

Allied Waste Services (BFI) Offers Senior Discount

If you are an Amherst Township senior who meets all of the requirements listed below, you are eligible for a discount that can save you approximately $80 per year on your trash pickup bill:

• You have a Golden Buckeye Card.
• You are not employed outside the home.
• You have no children or boarders living with you.
• You are limited to 2 cans or 3 bags, weekly

To receive the discount, you must drop off or mail a copy of your Golden Buckeye card (showing both sides) along with acknowledgement that you meet the above criteria.  Do not send this information with your bill, as it goes to a different location.  The mailing address is:

Elyria Allied Waste/BFI
P.O. Box 4011
Elyria, OH  44036

For more details call 1-800-433-1309.

“ICE” Cell Phone Program

“In Case of Emergency”

With the popularity of cell phones and their use, the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office is making residents aware of a very simple program designed to aid emergency responders in their efforts to identify victims whose identity is unknown and/or in need of having a responsible person contacted.  This program is totally voluntary and can be accomplished without the aid of your cellular provider.

The program known by the acronym I.C.E. for (In Case of Emergency) was first developed by the East Anglian Ambulance Service in England.  The premise of the program is very simple.  Cell Phone users are requested to make an entry into their cell phone’s address book with the indicator ICE.  This ICE number listed in their cell phone address book should contain the phone number as a next of kin or other person that the subscriber would like to have contacted in the event of an emergency.  This entry could be made even more specific and equally helpful by denoting the ICE entry as: ICE MOM, ICE DAD, etc. for quicker reference.  Subscribers are encouraged to make more than one ICE entry in their address book in the event that one or more entries cannot be reached.

Lots Available

Contact Sheriff’s Dept.

Twp. Bulletin Board

NOTE: New Earlier Meeting Times:

Trustee Meetings now at 7:00 p.m. – Zoning Commission Meetings now at 6:30 p.m.